cycling calendar as hundreds of top overseas cyclists attempt to fly in over the next two days.

The Conyers, Dill and Pearman Grand Prix, which has attracted a record number of teams this year, mostly from the US, is due to start on Thursday.

Hurricane-force winds are expected to hit the Island today, so teams who had planned to fly in today for the four-day event will have to postpone their journeys.

British Airways yesterday cancelled their Tuesday flight to the Island as did all of the US airlines.

Bermuda Bicycle Association president Greg Hopkins said top US team Saturn and British team Linda McCartney were due to arrive yesterday.

"We are obviously very concerned now about the effect the weather situation is going to have on the event,'' added Hopkins.

"There is no rain date, we will be going ahead, but the worry at the moment is getting the teams here.

"I have been receiving phone calls and just telling the teams to do their best to get here. We are reviewing the situation hour by hour.'' George Hincapie, Christain Vandervelte and Tyler Hamilton, members of the US Postal Service team which helped Lance Armstrong win the Tour de France, are among the big names due to take part.

Elliot Hubbard's New Jersey-based team Navigators will also be fielding a strong line-up, including Trent Klasna, winner of the Killington Stage Race.

National time trial champion Kris Hedges is hoping to make the Grand Prix, despite being involved in a serious crash in the Tour de Prince George in Washington DC on Sunday.

In his final preparation for the Grand Prix, the youngster was involved in a mass sprint for the finish when about 20 riders went down.

Hedges suffered bruising and abrasions and wrote his bike off, but is expected to recover in time for the weekend.